BY HAWI BUSSA
In today’s fast-paced world, podcasts have become the go-to medium for a generation hungry for content. For millennials like me, they offer the promise of deeper dives into topics that mainstream media often glosses over. Whether it's true crime, self-help, or politics, there’s a podcast for everyone. But as much as I love them, I can't help but wonder: are podcasts the game-changer we think they are, or are they starting to slip into the same trap that other forms of media have fallen into?
There’s no denying that podcasts have revolutionized the way we consume information. What used to be niche discussions in obscure corners of the internet are now part of mainstream culture. You can find a podcast on everything from mental health to conspiracy theories to the latest pop culture gossip. And that’s amazing. In many ways, podcasts feel like a rebellion against the shallow, bite-sized information overload we experience in social media. They offer long-form discussions and in-depth analysis, allowing us to think more deeply about the world.
But, here’s the thing. As podcasts have exploded in popularity, so has the pressure to monetize them. And this is where the cracks start to show.
Many of the most popular podcasts today seem more like marketing machines than platforms for meaningful conversations. Influencers, brands, and celebrities are all jumping on the bandwagon, creating shows that feel like extended ads or self-promotion. The content, the very reason we started listening in the first place, sometimes feels like an afterthought.
I’m not saying all podcasts are bad—far from it. There are still plenty of shows out there that are producing incredible, thought-provoking content. But for every genuinely interesting podcast, there seems to be ten others that are purely designed to push an agenda or sell a product. It’s like social media all over again: what starts as a platform for real connection gets watered down by algorithms and money.
This is where things get a little controversial. Some would argue that this shift is inevitable—that it’s just the natural evolution of media. But I’m not so sure. Shouldn’t we be more discerning about the content we consume? Shouldn’t podcasts be more than just background noise or another vehicle for brands to infiltrate our lives?
It’s also worth mentioning the impact of social media on podcast content. Many podcasters are chasing viral moments and soundbites, trying to create content that will pop-up on Instagram or TikTok. The art of storytelling or having meaningful conversations gets lost in the pursuit of quick hits. In this environment, it feels like more and more podcasts are being produced not to inform, challenge, or inspire us, but to simply gain followers and feed into the endless cycle of social media dopamine hits.
And the truth is, we’re to blame for this too. We’ve gotten used to skimming through content, looking for quick takeaways or funny moments to repost. Instead of committing to thoughtful dialogue, we opt for snippets of information that align with our existing beliefs. Podcasts, which were supposed to offer us a break from this social media-driven world, are starting to mirror it instead.
So, where does this leave us? Is the podcast world doomed to become yet another realm of shallow, monetized content? Maybe. But it doesn’t have to be.
There’s still hope for podcasts to push back against this trend. Audiences have more power than we realize. We can choose to support the podcasts that prioritize content over clicks, and that offer something more than just a sales pitch. We can demand better from the creators we follow.
At the end of the day, podcasts are still necessary. They offer a platform for voices and stories that might otherwise go unheard. But if we want podcasts to stay meaningful, we need to be critical of the content we’re consuming—and the motivations behind it. The future of podcasts is in our hands. Let’s make sure they remain a space for thought-provoking dialogue, not just another cog in the social media machine.
By all means, keep listening—but listen wisely.